What is Lobectomy?
Lungs have sections called lobes, with right lung having 3 lobes and left has 2 lobes. Lobectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one of the lobes of the lungs. This is done to remove the affected lobe and remain the healthy lung tissue to work as usual.
What happens During Lobectomy?
Surgeons perform Lobectomy surgery in different ways, depending upon the type and location of the tumor.
- Thoracotomy: In this open surgery, doctor makes a long cut along the side of the chest and remove the affected lobe of the lung.
- Robotic Surgery: The surgeon controls the robotic arms doing the operation. The process involves three or four half-inch cuts between your ribs. This method offers a low chance of infection.
- Video-Assisted Surgery: In this method of doing surgery, two to four small cuts are made by surgeon in the side of the chest. He uses tube with a tiny video camera to look inside.
When is Lobectomy performed?
Generally, Lobectomy is undertaken when the tumor in just one part of the lung. Lobectomy offers you the best chance for the cure.
What are the Risks Involved?
No surgery comes without risks and Lobectomy is no different. Some of the risks or side effects concerning this surgery include:
- Infections such as pneumonia
- Fluid leakage into chest
- Formation of pus
- Bleeding
- Pain
What about Recovery?
Lobectomy is a major surgery and recovering from it takes time. A patient needs to spend almost a week in hospital in case of open surgery while robotic or video-assisted surgery takes less time. Most people may feel tired or fatigue for the first few weeks. One needs to follow healthy diet along with light exercising to regain strength and keep the lung healthy.
The information shared in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you face any lung cancer related symptom, contact your doctor immediately.